Automatic steam-pressure and heat regulator



(No Model.)

0. B. BRANN;

AUTOMATIG STEAM PRESSURE AND HEAT REGULATOR. No. 363,275. Patented May 17, 1887.

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W a m a N. PETERSv Phm-Lilhu m her. Washington, D. c.

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OSCAR B. BRANN, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

AUTOMATIC STEAM-PRESSURE AND' HEAT REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,275, dated May 17, 1887.

Application filed July 3, 1886. Serial No. 207,021. (No model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l', OSCAR B. BRANN, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Automatic Stean1-Pressu re and Heat Regulators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The mechanical features of my invention are fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the invention with signal-bell attached; Fig. 2, a vertical section showing internal arrangement of the parts by which the steam-pressure and heat are regulated.

Similar letters of reference point out similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

My invention relates to an automatic steam and heat regulator and signal, which may be applied to any steam-boiler, hot-air chamber, and the like, wherein a uniform pressure of steam or uniform degree of heat is desired.

This invention is especially adapted for the use of dentists, and it has been designed asan improved attachment for any of the vulcanizers now in common use among dentists for vulcanizing the bases of artificial teeth, for the purpose of supplying a simple and efficient mechanical means whereby the steam-pressure may be kept uniform in the vulcanizers without requiring the operator to exercise constant care and attention over hiswork.

The invention consists of the combinations, arrangements, and adaptations of parts hereinafter set out. I

A in Fig. 1 is the top of a vulcanizer, steambOX, hot-air chamber, or other analogous device wherein the steam-pressure or heat is to be generated.

Rising perpendicularly above the part A is seen a cylindrical tube, (3, within which iscontained certain parts of the operating mechanism.

Bis a nut which forms the coupling by which the cylinder 0 is attached to the part A.

D is a plug or plunger fitting the bore of the cylinder 0. To each end of this plunger, by means of a screw, d, is attached a washer and rubber packing to prevent leakage of steam or gas. The top of the upright cylinder Cis cov ered with a screwcap, G. Between the under side of the cap G and the head of the plunger D is confined a spiral spring, F. Near its center the upright cylinder 0 is provided with a right-angled cross-piece, E, which is a hollow tube. To the ends of the hollow cross-piece E are attached lengths 'of rubber tubing. One length extends to a gasjet or other gassupply. The other length passes to a flame-chamber beneath the receptacle A. The plunger D at the point where the tube E crosses the upright O is grooved with a circular groove, d,which permits the free passage of gas through the tube E from the jet or supply to the flamechamber.

The operation of the above-described parts is as follows: The cylinder 0 is first attached to the steam-box or vulcanizer A by means of the coupling-nut B, screwed to anyconvenient pipe or post thereon. Connection is then made with a gas-supply by means of a rubber tube, 0, from one end of the cross-tube E. The rubber tube at the other end of E is passed to the heater under the steam-box or vulcanizer A. Gas is then turned on and passes through the tubes around the plunger D, through the groove d at its upper part, into the flamechamber under the generator A. When the gas is lighted, steam will be generated within the generator, which will create a pressure upon the lower end of plunger D and cause it to rise through the pipe 0 and coupling B. As the plunger D rises the spiral spring F will be compressed between its top and the cap G. At the same time the groove in the plunger D will be carried past the openings of the tube E, shutting off, in whole or in part, the flow of gas from the supply. Obviously, as soon as the gas-flow is diminished there will be less flame under the generator A,and consequently less steam'pressure within against the lower end of the plunger D.

For the purpose of obtaining a uniform steam-pressure and corresponding supply of gas the following manipulation is observed: If it is required to maintain a uniform pressure of fifty pounds, heat is applied, as above indicated. The plungerD is held. hard down by screwingthe cap G over the cylinder G and compressing the spring F until the desired pressure is indicated. The nut G is then raised, releasing the spring F, and allowing the plunger D to rise and diminish the supply of gas until just enough gas will be fed under the generator to hold the pressure at the required point. Thus by turning the screw-cap Gr on or off the end of the cylinder the plunger D can be adapted to work at any desired pressure. Having once got the pressure regu- 4 lated at any desired point, by means of the screw-cap, it will shut off at the same point whenever heat is applied to generate pressure. In connection with my scheme for regulatlng steam-pressure invulcanizers and the like, 1

- pipe E by means of a standard, J, held in place by a set-screw, j. A bell-crank arm, K, is attached tothe standard J by means of a screwpost, It, to which is fastened a spiral spring, k, to control the force of the hammer k acting on the gong I. The gong I acts as a signal to the operator when the desired pressure is reached, and is sounded in the following way: As the plunger D is raised by the pressurethe spindle H also rises up and the ring a comes in contact with the short arm of the bell-hammer, causing that to rise up and carry the hammer awayfrom the gong I. At the same time the required pressure or temperature is reached the short arm slides by a, letting the hammer strike the go ng I.

The time of striking is regulated to the same time the pressure is reached by raising or lowering the ring a on the spindle H.

The particular advantage of the gong is to enable the operator to know the time when the "desired pressure or temperature is reached when he may be engaged at a distance.

When he hears the gong, he can look at his watch and take the time, and when the heat has been applied the length of time required he can go tothe machine andshut off gas at the stop-cock in the supply-pipe.

When the pressure is relieved, the plunger D is forced downwardly by the spring F, which also carries down the ring or, until it slips by and beneath short arm of the bell-hammer. Then all is ready for further use, working as before.

Having now described my claim- 1. In combination with the gas-supply pipes and steam-chamber, the cylinder O,avertica1- ly-movable plunger, D, having the groove (1, adapted to regulate the supply of gas, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination withthe gas-supply pipes and the steam chamber, the cylinder 0, and a verticallymovable plunger,-D, circularly grooved at d, regulating thesupply of. gas, and a spring applied to said plunger, whereby any desired pressure can be obtained for the steam, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

invention, I

3. In combination with the gassupply pipes,

the steam-chamber, the vertical plunger D,

having thegroove d, the spindle H, having a ring, a, spring F, and cap .G,,standard J, the gong I, and 'spring-actuatedand striking arm K, substantially as and for the purposesetforth.

4. In combination with the steamchamber, the cylinder or tube 0, and the hollowcrosspiece E,connccting with saidtube, thevertical plunger D, grooved at d, the spindle H, the spring F, and cap G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with the tube or cylinder communicating with the steam-chamber, a plunger therein circularly grooved and provided with a spring, and means, as described, for actuating the gong and the signal mechanism, substantially .as set forth, whereby the condition ,of the steam-pressure is automatically announced, substantially as described.

OSOAR'B. BRANN.

Witnesses:

MILLARD F. HICKS, FRED H. KING. 

